When center Sean Auwae first started considering a recruiting pitch from Vanderbilt University, his Kapolei High teammates scurried to the internet.

“They didn’t know much about Vanderbilt at first, but when they researched it they found out what an academically prestigious school it was,” Auwae said.

That — along with the opportunity to play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference — appealed to the 6-foot, 5-inch, 300-pound Auwae who, according to a spokesman for the Commodores, became the first player from Hawaii to sign a scholarship letter there in the school’s 125-year history of the sport.

Indications are he may not be the last.

“When they were here for (Sean’s) home visit their coaches saw Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, who is a 6-foot, 4-inch, 260-pound junior, and they offered him, too,” said Kapolei head coach Darren Hernandez on Wednesday, National Letter of Intent day.

As an assistant football coach at Stanford, Utah and Weber State, Derek Mason, Vanderbilt’s head coach, said he became impressed with the zeal of Polynesian players. “I knew if I became a head coach I would do what I could to get some of those players,” Mason said. “Guys like (Auwae).”

He just didn’t know if he could get them to travel 4,200 miles from Hawaii. Auwae, an All-State offensive lineman with 18 scholarship offers, said he was initially “iffy” about visiting the Nashville, Tenn., campus. “But once I got there I liked it and was able to see myself playing there,” said Auwae, who plans to major in economics.

On an all-star game trip Auwae said he ran into Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota during an airport stopover and quizzed him about the city. “He said he liked it and if I came there he would look out for me,” Auwae said.